RI, Myanmar coal transaction being discussed at B to B level: Minister

By Bambang Atmaja

Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa said that the governments of Indonesia and Myanmar have opened opportunity for coal shipment from Indonesia to the latter, and that the negotiation has reached the level of business to business (B to B).

Minister Hatta made the statement after his second visit to Myanmar along with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in recent weeks.

"Many progresses have been made on the plan. Now the talks over the purchase have been on the stage of B to B, after we (both governments) made the agreements," Hatta told Petromindo.com.

At his first visit to Myanmar, weeks before the second one, Hatta said that the country demands coal supply from Indonesia to generate power plants to be built by Indonesian firm, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara.

Hatta said that Myanmar needs more coal-fired power plants as the country's electrification ratio is only about 40 percent.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak